Trunk-carrier



(No Model.)

G. W. HILL. TRUNK BARRIER.

No. 488357. Patented Dec. 20, 1892.

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GEORGE WASHINGTON HILL, OF OBERLIN, OHIO.

TRUNK-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,357, dated December 20, 1892.

Application filed February 6,1892. Serial No. 420,494. (no model.)

To all whom it 'mcty concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WAsHINeToN HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oberlin, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Trunk-Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for handling or carrying trunks; and the objects in view are to provide a cheap and simple device applicable to the ordinarystyles of trunks,and capable of being adjusted to the different sizes thereof; and, when applied, to provide a convenient, secure handhold,whereby said trunks may be dragged or carried about without danger of breaking the straps composing the usual handle of the trunk, or injuring the hand of the handler by being pinched between the trunk and the handle-strap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings l igure 1 is a perspective view of one end of the trunk with my carrier applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective of the carrier. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4: is a detail in section of the spring-locklug-pin.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In practicing my invention I provide a metal sheath 1, preferably rectangular in cross-section, the lower end of the same being open and the upper end closed by a rubber cap or buffer 2, considerably wider than the sheath, or sufficiently so to extend beyond the inner face of the same for a purpose hereinafter apparent. Near its lower end the sheath is provided at its opposite edges with lateral swells 3, and above the same the face of the sheath is provided with a lateral projection or stop 4. This stop is formed in any suitable way, but in the present instance by securing to the sheath a hollow metal box, as shown. From the lateral swells there projecttrunnions or studs 6, and these pass through perforations formed in the inner ends of a pair of bent straps 7 of metal.

The straps are connected immediately below the stop by a cross-bar S, and at their outer extremities by a cross-bar 9, upon which is loosely mounted a wooden or other handle 10. By reason of the cross-bar 8, the upward movement of the handle upon the trunnions will be limited to the horizontal, in that the cross-bar will then be brought into contact with the lower end of the stop 4:.

Mounted for reciprocation in the sheath, and approximating the same in cross-section, is an extension bar or leg 13, the same at its lower end being laterally bent to form a flared foot 15 projecting at a right angle to the bar and extending rearwardly. This foot may be roughened if desired. The extension-bar is provided with a series of perforations or adjusting-holes 16, any one of which, by a telescopic movement of the sheath and bar, may be made to register with a perforation 17 formed in the front wall of the sheath 1.

At each side of the perforation 17, small screw-holes 18 are formed in the front wall of the sheath, and the same receive screws 19, which pass through lateral securing-plates formed at the base of a perforated boss 20. The bore of the boss registers with the perforation 17, and is provided upon its interior with opposite bayonet slots 21. A lockingpin 22 is mounted in the bore and provided with lateral pins 25 which engage the slots. A coiled spring 26 encircles the locking-pin and normally presses the same inwardly or through the perforation 17 and into any one of the perforations of the extension bar or leg that may be in register with the perforation 17. In this manner it will be obvious that the extension-bar may be locked at any point with relation to the sheath, and thus the device as a whole lengthened or short ened. When it is desired to adjust the extension-bar so as to lengthen or shorten the device, the locking-pin is drawn outwardly against the tension of the spring and given a quarter turn so as to engage in the branches of the bayonet-shaped grooves of the boss, and thus the locking-pin is held out of engage ment with the adj usting-holes and the extension bar may be moved to any point, after which a reverse rotation of the locking-pin will permit the spring to throw the same into re-engagement with the locking perforations of the sheath and extension bar or leg.

Referring to Fig. 1, in which I have illustrated my invention as applied to a trunk, 27 designates the trunk and 28 the usual straphandle with which the ends are provided. As is well known, these strap-handles are usually flexible and flat, affording but a poor handhold for a person handling the trunk, and by reason of their flexibility, when the trunk is lifted, the hand of the operator is squeezed in a painful manner oftentimes against the end of the trunk, and to such an extent as to lacerate the skin over the knuckles. In applying my device, the upper end of the same is first introduced through the leather handle, which introduction is continued until the inclined or wedge-shaped stop upon the sheath takes snugly into the leather handle. The spring locking-pin is now retracted, and the extension bar slid within the sheath until its foot is brought against the bottom of the trunk. The pin is now released so as to engage an adjusting hole that may be in line therewith, and the application of the device is complete. It will now be seen that the device is securely fixed to the trunk, such application being made almost in an instant and with very little trouble. The handle of the device is now swung to a horizontal position and is of a length to give the operator or handler a secure hold. The rubber cap or buffer at the upper end of the sheath comes against the end of the trunk, thus retaining the sheath off some distance from the trunk and out of contact therewith, whereby niarring of -the trunk by the metal is avoided. \Vhen it is desired to remove the device, it is only necessary to draw the same downwardly, so as to disconnect from the handle of the trunk.

From the foregoing description, in connection With the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a cheap and simple device by which trunks may be conveniently handled, without danger of injury to the same or to the operator, the device being readily applied, not liable to get out of order, and readily understood.

It will be obvious that more than one handle may be employed, for instance, a handle may be attached to the foot. Furthermore, the buffer may be changed in a variety of ways, as for instance, into the form of a roller, all of which I include as of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for handling trunks, consisting of a sheath adapted to be passed through the handle of a trunk, a handle secured to the sheath, and an extensible leg or bar adjustably mounted in the sheath and terminating at its lower end in a foot adapted to take under the trunk, substantially as specified.

2. A telescopic device for handling trunks, the same being adapted to be passed upwardly through the handle of a trunk and provided opposite the handle with an inclined face for wedging within the handle, a foot at the lower end of the device, and a handle projecting from the device, substantially as specified. v

3. In a trunk-handling device, the combination with the metal sheath, rectangular in cross-section, the handle pivoted to the opposite sides of the sheath and provided with an inclined stop against which the bar may come and adapted to Wedge within the handle of the trunk, of the perforated extension-bar terminating at its lower end in a foot adapted to take under the trunk, a bored boss secured to the sheath and provided with bayonetshaped grooves, a spring-pressed locking-pin mounted in the bored boss and provided with lateral pins for engaging the bayonet-shaped grooves, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WVASHINGTON HILL.

WVitnesses:

F. F. J EWETT, J. F. PEoK. 

